Board of Trustees

Tim Hickman is an architect and principal and Substance Architecture, an architectural design firm based in Des Moines. Hickman graduated from Iowa State University with a BA in Architecture and holds a Master Degree in Architecture from Yale University. Hickman was appointed to the Board of Trustees by Mayor Frank Cownie in 2022. Hickman has been a dedicated ally of Des Moines’ library system since working on the design of the Forest Avenue Library in the early 1990s.

Hickman served on the Board of Directors of the Des Moines Public Library Foundation from 2015 to 2020 serving as Secretary, Vice President, and President of the Board during his tenure. An avid reader, he is energized by the ways the Des Moines’ Library system serves every resident of the metro area, providing education, entertainment, literacy, and equity while its branches provide cultural centers within the city’s neighborhoods.

Isobel Osius graduated from the University of Wyoming with degrees in accounting and English literature and holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Temple University. She worked as a custom research director and marketing database director for Conde Nast Publications in New York City for more than eighteen years. In 2002, she joined Meredith Corporation where she served as an editorial researcher until her retirement in 2007. In her spare time, she likes to read and travel.

Jessica Cezar is a Des Moines native and relishes in the memories of growing up and discovering her favorite books in the South Side library, where she now creates memories with her own kids.

Cezar is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Elementary Education. With her background and love for education she took on the diligent task of providing education to her two kids during the pandemic. She is a deep supporter of the Des Moines Public School system where her children are enrolled. Her passion for education and DMPS translates to consistent engagement and advocacy for educational rights.

Cezar is also the partner to Pernell Cezar, CEO of BLK & Bold, the first Black-owned nationally distributed coffee company, and recently marked as one of the fastest growing companies in the country.

When Cezar isn’t helping with the company or celebrating and spending time with her two children, you can find her listening to her favorite podcasts, creating custom shortbread cookies, or watching basketball.

Kimberley is a Des Moines transplant and lives on the Northwest side of town. She is a graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelors in Communication with a Certificate in Community Leadership and Public Service.

Professionally she is a nonprofit leader in fundraising that advocates for young girls and women in the Greater Des Moines Community.

Kimberley and her wife adopted three children from the foster system and welcomed a baby girl together last year. Their free time is spent at the parks, going camping and taking family road trips. Kimberley lives fearlessly and challenges others to live and act boldly. 

Drew Kelso, a resident of the Highland Park Neighborhood on the Northside of Des Moines, is a dedicated community leader with a passion for fostering connections and community betterment. Having spent 11 years with Barnes & Noble, culminating in the role as Community Business Development Manager for central Iowa, he facilitated bulk sales, coordinated non-profit fundraising efforts, managed store events, and organized author signings.

Drew’s journey into community involvement began in January 2017 when he attended his first neighborhood association meeting and emerged as the Vice President, driven by a vision to revitalize the group. His commitment to serving his community saw him take on the role of President in both 2018 and 2019, spearheading impactful projects such as the transformation of Belle Turner Park and the implementation of the Euclid street diet.

In 2020, Drew, alongside his wife Kara Kelso, ventured into the realm of entrepreneurship by opening The Slow Down Coffee Co in the former Highland Park Hardware space on 6th Avenue. With a mission centered around the concept of slowing down to truly connect with one another, their coffee shop has become a catalyst for a neighborhood renaissance, breathing new life and vibrancy into the area.

Recognized as one of the Des Moines Register's "People to Watch" in 2019, Drew Kelso's commitment to building a strong, connected community and his profound love for literature make him a valuable addition to the Des Moines Public Library Board of Trustees, where his unique blend of experiences and visionary leadership will undoubtedly serve the library and its patrons well.